Former Congressman E. Clay Shaw, Jr. dies after battle with cancer

Former U.S. Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr., died Tuesday night after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was 74.

Shaw, a Republican and former Fort Lauderdale mayor, served in Congress for 26 years. He is survived by his wife 53 years, Emilie, four children and 15 grandchildren.

“It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that our family announces the passing of our loving husband, father, grandfather, congressman and mayor, E. Clay Shaw, Jr. Clay Shaw passed away on Tuesday, September 10th at Holy Cross Hospital surrounded by family and following a courageous battle against lung cancer,” said a statement released by Shaw’s family.

“Clay cherished his time in the U.S. Congress representing the people of South Florida. He was a devoted family man setting a fine example for our 15 grandchildren. They will always be proud of Clay’s love of country,” said Emilie Shaw.

Shaw championed welfare reform in the 1990s and was popular in a
moderate, coastal district that at various times included parts of
Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. The bridge over the Intracoastal
Waterway on the 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale bears his name
-- a symbol of his effectiveness at bringing home the bacon to his
Broward County constituents.

He personified a more civil style of politics, and voters in coastal
Broward continued to elect him year after year, though he had some
memorably tough and hard-fought races. In 2000, Shaw narrowly defeated
Rep. Elaine Bloom of Miami Beach. In the reapportionment year of 1992, he prevailed in a rough-and-tumble race against then-Senate President Gwen Margolis.

Shaw ultimately lost his seat in 2006 to Democrat Ron Klein of
Boca Raton. Shaw also was one of a number of prominent Republicans
considered for Florida's vacant U.S. Senate seat in 2009, but then-Gov. Charlie Crist chose his former chief of staff, George LeMieux.

Shaw
served as a city attorney and city commissioner before he was elected
mayor of Fort Lauderdale in 1975. Throughout his tenure he was known as a
politician who had genuine and strong relationships with other elected
officials -- including Democrats. Even as Broward became an increasingly
Democratic stronghold, he was that rare elected Republican in Broward
who many Democrats spoke positively about.

Fort
Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, a Democrat also known for reaching across
the aisle, described Shaw as a man who epitomized public service.

“He
did it in a very collegial way. He did it in a very dignified way,'' Seiler said. "You’d be hard pressed to find anybody who told you he did anything rude
or disrespectful. He was the ultimate public servant. He did a fabulous
job for the city of Fort Lauderdale whether as mayor or in Congress. He
was always focused on Fort Lauderdale -- not the Republican Party not
the Democratic party. It was Fort Lauderdale. He had an unbelievable
working relationship with the Democrats not because he agreed with them
but because he respected their opinions and he respected the debate.”

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, said: Shaw “epitomized everything a public servant should be and made South Floridians proud. I was always impressed by Clay’s work on the causes he was most passionate about. Clay’s impact on America will forever be felt through the important reforms he championed on welfare reform, Social Security reform and Everglades restoration."

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, called Shaw "a true family man and his relationship with his wife, Emilie, was inspirational." As dean of Florida’s Congressional delegatio, Shaw "went beyond that – he was a mentor and friend to all,'' Diaz-Balart said.

Former congressman, now Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam recalled how he had worked with Shaw while in Washington.

“Florida
lost a great advocate and public servant when Clay Shaw was called home
last night,'' Putnam said in a statement. "I had an opportunity to work on a number of issues with
Clay, but his greatest love was always his family. Melissa and I send
our prayers to Emilie and the Shaw family.”

Shaw was born in Miami, Florida, on April 19, 1939. He graduated from Miami Edison Senior High School in 1957. He received his B.S. from Stetson University in 1961, an M.B.A., from the University of Alabama in 1963, and his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 1966.

In 1975, at the age of 36, Shaw became the mayor of Fort Lauderdale. In 1980, he won a seat as a freshman lawmaker in Congress representing the 22nd congressional district, which then included Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. He would go on to win re-election 12 times over the following two decades until 2008 when Democrat Ron Klein beat him in a bitter campaign.

In the House, Shaw served on the Judiciary committee for eight years before moving to the powerful Ways and Means committee.

In 1994, when Republicans won control of the House from Democrats, Shaw became chairman of a subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, a position that included authority over welfare issues. His 1993 bill — a proposal to end the federal welfare program and remove recipients after two years from the rolls and require them to work — became a major provision of the Contract with America and marked one of the most dramatic changes in American public policy. In 1996, the welfare reform bill was signed into law by then President Bill Clinton.

Following the 1998 election, Shaw took on another big issue — Social Security — after becoming chairman of the House Social Security subcommittee. Among the legislation he got approved was a bill repealing the earnings tax on Social Security recipients age 65-69. He later sought to give workers the option of devoting part of their earnings for personal retirement accounts beyond Social Security. Democrats pounced on the idea as a move to privatize the Social Security system.

In 2000, he barely edged state Rep. Elaine Bloom — winning by only a few hundred votes — in one of the most expensive House races in the country. Following the election, lawmakers the congressional district lines were redrawn with Miami-Dade removed.

Among other legislation championed by Shaw: the 1982 Missing and Exploited Children’s Act, the Holocaust Restoration Tax Fairness Act of 2002 and the Congo Basin Forest Partnership Act of 2004. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Emilie; children Emilie “Mimi” Shaw Carter (Jim), Jennifer Shaw Wilder (Greg), E. Clay Shaw III (Heather) and John Charles “J.C.” Shaw (Angela) and 15 grandchildren.

He will be buried at a family graveside in Cuba, Alabama. A memorial service will take place in Ft. Lauderdale at a later date.

Comments

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E.Clay Shaw, was not only a kind,, beautiful man, who adored his wife Emily,his children and grandchildren, when you had the plessure of being in there company they made you feel like a part of there family, as a leader of our Country he made you proud to be America. Barabar and I were so proud to volunteer in his behalf, He will be dearly missed, God wants him now leading the way for the rest of us, making sure we follow in his footsteps,
God Bless Clay. We Love you.
Tom& Barbars DeRita.

I just tried to post a comment about my friend Clay Shaw but for whatever reason it did not post. Maybe it was to long so I will try again. Clay was a friend of mine during and after his tenure with the city of Fort Lauderdale. He is one of the best men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was a friend of the Building and Zoning Dept. of the city of Fort Lauderdale and he stayed In touch long after he went to Washington. I will miss him but I am confident he will be in a better place with God. God Bless Clay Shaw
Calvin B Howe(retired Director of Bldg. and Zoning )

He was a "class act".......today's politicians should study his commitment to the people and working with the "other side". He was a gentleman's gentleman......we could certainly use more E. Clay Shaw types today.